Food and beverage firms in Europe are discovering exciting new options for prebiotics in infant formula products, dairy and beverages and expanding prebiotic ingredients into new application sectors such as snack products and meat products as consumer demand grows. New prebiotic ingredients with unique functional properties are entering the prebiotics market and the importance of prebiotic fibres as opposed to general fibres is steadily increasing in market applications. The food industry remains... ...Read more »

Australian crop production increased in 2007-08 in comparison to the previous year, but generally remains at among the lowest levels in five years, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The numbers of livestock fell while the horticulture sector reported mixed results. Lack of water was labelled as the major contributor, with a near complete suspension of rice production. Drought conditions and industry adjustments have lead to a decline in livestock, with sheep and... ...Read more »

The Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) cheese joint venture deal with National Foods is on the back burner as the dairy company seeks to get their business back on track. WCB has met with a number of difficulties since first signing the joint venture agreement in December last year. They cut the milk price offered to suppliers on April 1 this year, but were forced to reinstate the previous price after a backlash from farmers. This ensured a profit downgrade and a subsequent cancelling of a rights... ...Read more »

Costco Australia has reportedly delayed the launch date of their first Australian store, just two months after announcing the store would open five months ahead of schedule. Originally slated to open towards the end of the year, the retailer reported in March that they were anticipating a July opening of their first store at Docklands – on the western side of Melbourne’s CBD. The store, which will have almost 4,000 product lines, will now open in mid-August, according to a report in the... ...Read more »

Major grocery chains are resisting the request of Choice for over 3000 individual product prices from stores across their networks as the consumer group readies itself for a July 1 re-launch of the controversial site. Choice has previously announced that consultancy firm SMS Management & Technology would help the consumer group with the $13 million task of rebuilding the troubled Grocery Choice website. The site was first introduced last year after an ACCC Grocery Price Inquiry found the sector... ...Read more »

As concerns about the economy grew, Australians went ‘back to the basics’ of home cooking and shopping by rediscovering classic ingredients, according to leading food commentator, Liz Dangar. “In tough economic times, cost-conscious Australian families are looking for ‘in-tertainment’, choosing to stay in and cook at home rather than eat takeaway or go out to restaurants,” Liz Dangar, founder of the Dangar Research Group, explained. “When it comes to the... ...Read more »

The re-introduction of dairy subsidies in the US has been met with disappointment in Australia, as concerns grow that protectionism could have a negative impact on food security. “The US announcement at the weekend that it will follow the European Union’s (EU’s) misguided re-introduction of subsidies for dairy producers only compounds the garbled signals affecting world markets and derails legitimate attempts to correct the global economic recession,” National Farmers’... ...Read more »

Restaurants have to focus on innovation when creating their entrée and side dish menus, according to new research from the US. Darren Tristano, Executive Vice-President at foodservice consultant Technomic, said that consumers were re-evaluating the need for starters as they looked to save money when dining out. “Consumers are trying to cut their dining budgets, in many cases by eliminating starters,” he advised. “To justify spending on items from the left side of the menu, they... ...Read more »

Continued speculation of a multi-billion dollar merger between Australia’s largest alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage makers has been quashed by Coca-Cola Amatil at their Annual General Meeting today. Terry Davis, CCA’s Chief Executive, told reporters that they were happy to continue pursuing organic growth via their joint venture with SAB Miller – Pacific Beverages. “We’re not concerned how long it takes us to get a bigger presence in the Australian beer market –... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Company, the world’s largest soup producer and owner of Arnott’s biscuits, has raised its profit forecast for the current year despite reporting an even bigger sales decline of 10% in the third quarter, up from a decline of 4% in the second quarter. The company released their results earlier than expected to counter negative speculation about their earnings. Campbell spokesman Anthony Sanzio said that the company, which outshone analyst expectations, “wanted to get... ...Read more »